Carro Armato M11/39 Medium Tank7:

Italy's M11/39 Medium Tank

Italy's M11/39

Italy's M11/39

Ita;ly's M11/39

A Carro di Rottura (breakthrough tank) was to be developed.5

Fiat-Ansaldo built it as a Carro di Rottura.6 It was developed as the 8 T in 1932 but was changed to M 11-39 in 1937.6

In 1937 prototype was built.5 The Regio Esercito (Royal Italian Army) placed an order for 100 of them in 1938.6 Production was nine per month.6

Started with 6 road wheels and was similar to American M3 Lee except had 37 mm in sponson. Eventually had 8 road wheels. Initially had an RF 1 CA radio, but production models had no radio5.6

Main Armament

Had 2 Breda 8 mm MGs in the turret and a 37 mm mounted on the right side of the hull.5,6 The driver was on the left side.5

The 37 mm gun had a telescopic sight.6 The two 8 mm Breda MGs were in a cast gimbal mount with a telescopic sight and room mounted periscope.6

Fighting Compartment

On each side of the hull superstructure were oval pistol ports.6 There were two ports in the right rear superstructure.6

Entrances were in the turret room, above the main gun, and a door in the left side.6

The armor was bolt-on plating.6 Riveted construction.7

Air intakes were at the rear in the superstructure and the turret.6

Engine

The engine was in the rear with the drive going to the front sprockets.5,6 The adjustable idler was in the rear.6

There were two radiator gills at the rear of the engine compartment.6

Suspension

The suspension had two four-wheel bogies mounted in pairs on a semi-elliptic leaf spring.5

It had four double wheeled articulated bogies that were paired into two bogie assemblies.6 They were carried on semi-elliptical leaf springs.6

Two spare bogie wheels were fitted on the rear hull, with the jack on the front left fender.6

First Tests

A company in the 32nd Tank Regiment of the Ariete (Ram) Armored Division received the first batch to test in August 1939.6

Deployed

Was intended to be main tank of armored divisions. Each battalion would have 31 tanks.

These eventually equipped two battalions of the Ariete (Ram) Armored Division.6

In Africa

24 were sent to Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian Somaliland.6

70 / 726 were sent to Africa and joined the 4th Tank Regiment. First action Sidi Azeis, August 5, 1940.5

Five were captured by the 6th Australian Division and used against the Italians at Tobruk in January 1941.

  M11/39
Crew Commander/turret gunner, 37 mm gunner, driver6
31,2,5,6,7
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 24,250.4 lb6, 24,640 lb
10.8 tons7, 10.83 tons, 10.9 tons4, 11 tons1,2, 12.1 ton6
11,000 kg6,7, 11,175 kg1
Length w/gun 15.5'2, 15' 6"1,5, 15' 6.5"7, 15' 10.9"6
4.7 m , 4.73 m1,4, 4.74 m7, 4.85 m6
Length w/o gun  
Height 6' 11.1"6, 7.33'2, 7' 6.5"7, 7' 7"1,5
2.11 m6, 2.3 m1,4,7
Width 7.08'2, 7' 1.8"6, 7' 2"1,5, 7' 3"7
2.18 m1,4,6, 2.2 m, 2.21 m7
Width over tracks  
Ground clearance  
Ground contact length  
Ground pressure  
Turret ring diameter  
Armament  
Main 37 mm1,2,3
37 mm L/404
37 mm Vickers-Terni L/40, hull6,7
Secondary  
MG 2: 8 mm MG1,3
2: 8 mm Breda Model 38 MG, turret4,6,7
2: MG2
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main 846
Secondary  
MG 2,8086
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm) 6 - 301,2, 7 - 306, 307
Front: 304
Side: 144
Hull Front, Upper 30
Hull Front, Lower 14
Hull Sides, Upper 14
Hull Sides, Lower 14
Hull Rear 14
Hull Top 8
Hull Bottom 8
Turret Front 30
Turret Sides 30
Turret Rear 14
Turret Top 7
Engine (Make / Model) Fiat SPA 8T1,6,7
Spa 8T5
Bore / stroke  
Cooling Water6
Cylinders 81
V-82,5,6,7
Capacity  
Net HP 1051,2,4,5,7, 1256
Power to weight ratio  
Compression ratio  
Transmission (Type)  
Steering  
Steering ratio  
Starter  
Electrical system  
Ignition  
Fuel (Type) Diesel1,2,5,6,7
Octane  
Quantity Main tank: 38.3 gallons6, 145 liters6
Reserve tank: 9.2 gallons6, 35 liters6
Road consumption  
Cross country consumption  
Performance  
Traverse 360°, hydraulic6
37 mm: 15° each way4,6
Max speed 19.9 mph6, 20 mph5,7, 20.7 mph1, 21 mph2
32 kph6,7, 32.2 kph, 33 kph4, 33.3 kph1
Cross country speed 9.3 mph
Road radius 124 miles1,7, 125 miles5, 130 miles6
200 km1,7, 210 km6
Cross country radius  
Turning radius  
Elevation limits 37 mm: +12° to -12°6, -8°
Fording depth 3' 3"
Trench crossing 6' 6"
Vertical obstacle 2' 7.5"
Climbing ability  
Suspension (Type) Two 4 wheel bogies, semi-elliptic leaf spring5
Four double wheeled articulated bogies that were paired into two bogie assemblies.6
Sprung bogie7
Wheels each side 86
Return rollers each side 36
Tracks (Type)  
Length  
Width  
Diameter  
Number of links  
Pitch  
Tire tread  
Track centers/tread  
Production 1937-1940: 1003

Sources:

  1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
  2. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  3. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  4. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  5. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  6. Italian Medium Tanks in Action, Nicola Pignato, 2001
  7. The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
Want to learn about a new vehicle? Select the random picture to learn about the vehicle.
Home page graphic for wwiivehicles.com, pictures of Sherman, T-34/85, Tiger, and Churchill